Some medical assistants work one-on-one with patients while drawing blood, administering medications, advising on treatment plans, prescribing a specialized diet, removing sutures or changing dressings. Other duties might include cleaning both waiting and examination rooms or ordering supplies and equipment for the medical office.

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Certification Requirements

Medical assistants must have certification in the field. The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) requires candidates for certification to have completed an accredited medical assisting program. Most such programs run two years and result in an associate’s degree; community and junior colleges as well as vocational schools offer them. Some programs last one year and result in a certificate. The AAMA also requires that candidates complete an unpaid work experience program called a practicum, and then they must pass an exam. Recertification is required every five years.

Certification for medical assisting can also be obtained through American Medical Technologists (AMT), which has basically the same requirements of AAMA certification but does not require passage of an exam if the candidate has been working in the field of medical assisting for three of the past five years or if they have previously passed a certification exam.

In addition to medical assisting certification, some jobs require applicants to be certified in basic life support, which trains individuals to respond to life-threatening situations like heart attacks, choking or drowning.

Salary Info and Career Outlook

Medical assistants earned a mean annual salary of $31,910 as of May 2015, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Employment opportunities for medical assistants are expected to be good in the coming years; the BLS anticipated a 23% increase in employment from 2014-2024, which is significantly faster than the average for all careers.

Certified medical assistants perform administrative tasks, such as answering phones, completing paperwork, scheduling appointments and processing health insurance claims. They may also be required to take a patient history, prepare patients for treatment, and take a patient’s vital signs prior to treatment. In some cases, they draw blood, administer medications or counsel patients about their medical care.

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